By Kirsten Hubbard
Central America Travel Expert, about.com
El Salvador travel guide: El Salvador has suffered a history far too massive for its tiny size. Though it has almost entirely rebuilt itself since the brutalities of the Civil War in the 1980s, crime-wise El Salvador still remains the most dangerous country in Central America.
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However,
bold backpackers and other El Salvador travelers keep visiting El
Salvador. They’ve got good reason to. The locals are outstandingly
welcoming. Generations of international surfers testify that the breaks
of El Salvador’s Pacific coast rival the best of the world. And the
nation’s natural beauty -— volcanoes, verdant coffee plantations,
isolated beaches -— is stunning, though its destruction and
deforestation nears catastrophic.
- Compare rates on El Salvador flights
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El Salvador Travel: Where Should I Go?
First, take a look at our El Salvador Photo Gallery!
The crowded capital of San Salvador hasn't historically drawn much in the way of travelers, but a number of areas have been revitalized in recent years.
The city is also central to many of El Salvador's
attractions, like the beaches and San Salvador volcano. Nearby Santa Ana
is much more attractive, surrounded by coffee plantations and sugarcane
fields -— travel to the Mayan ruin of Tazumal, erstwhile setting of
human sacrifice! Two hours north, La Palma offers cool weather and
beautiful views.
Because El Salvador is so small, travelers are
never far from the country’s Pacific beaches. And what beaches they are.
The water is over eighty degrees on average, the wave breaks are
perfect, and the sands are rarely crowded. No wonder surfers flock to El Salvador’s beaches all year long -— the favorites are La Libertad, Las Flores,
and Playa Herradura. The beaches of Costa del Sol and San Juan del Gozo
are better for non-surfers, boasting soft white sands and calmer
waters.
Four hours north of San Salvador, the Montecristo National
Park is a mysterious and beautiful cloudforest, located in the exact
spot where the borders of Guatemala, Honduras
and El Salvador come together. The El Imposible National Park is
another lovely natural destination—follow the 9km trek to the high
point, Cerro Leon, for some unforgettable vistas of still-smoking
volcanoes.
El Salvador Travel: What Can I See?
Disastrously,
up to 98% of El Salvador’s forests have been stripped in the last 30
years. The remaining bits mostly belong to Montecristo and Imposible
National Parks, as mentioned above. These forests are home too over 500
species of birds and several mammals, which the fantastic organization SalvaNatura is striving to save.
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Good
news: El Salvador, once called the coffee republic, is still host to
numerous plantations. These high-altitude plantations provide refuge
more many of the country’s birds, mammals, and other animals. So drink
up —- and even when you’re home, buy coffee from El Salvador (especially
if it’s labeled Fair Trade).
El Salvador Travel: How Do I Get There and Around?
El
Salvador is tiny, but its tourist infrastructure makes internal travel
more difficult than you might expect. The public bus system is
inexpensive, but buses are crowded and usually don’t have luggage racks
-— not ideal for luxury travelers. Renting a car is a popular choice
(especially travelers with surf boards), or hiring a driver with a
minivan.
The efficient international bus system Ticabus stops in San Salvador on its route from Guatemala City south (or reverse). El Salvador’s international airport in San Salvador is renovated and modern.
El Salvador Travel: How Much Will I Pay?
Believe it or not, in 2001 El Salvador adopted the US dollar
as legal tender. Costs in El Salvador are extremely low—no more than $3
USD for your average meal. However, the airport departure tax is hefty
at $28 USD (ouch), and must be paid in cash.
El Salvador Travel: What Will I Eat?
Check out our article on El Salvador cuisine.
El Salvador Travel: When Should I Go?
El Salvador’s rainy season is between May and November, and its dry season is between December and April. Even in rainy season, sunny days are the norm. Thunderstorms are short and strong, usually occurring late in the day.
During the Easter Holy Week, called Semana Santa,
El Salvador’s hotels and beaches are packed with local tourists.
Christmas and New Years are busy as well—make sure you have reservations
long in advance if you plan on visiting during these holidays.
El Salvador Travel: How Safe Will I Be?
Street
crime, and even violent crime is a big problem in El Salvador.
Obviously, most travelers visiting the country leave without incident.
But it’s crucial to follow some ground rules when traveling in El
Salvador—and in any Central American country, for that matter.
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Don’t
walk around at night in the cities, especially in San Salvador.
Multiply that times ten if you’re a woman, and times ten thousand if
you’re a woman traveling alone. Take a taxi, even if your destination is
a couple blocks away. Keep copies of your passport in different
locations. Don’t flash anything of value, especially money—keep it in a money belt under your clothes. If you are robbed, do as the robber asks—your camera isn’t worth your life.
As
for health, it’s advised to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B
and Typhoid, and make sure you’re up to date on all your boosters.
Malaria prophylaxis with chloroquine is recommended if you’re traveling
in rural areas, especially Santa Ana, Ahuachapan, and La Union.
